A surgical instrument can comprise a first jaw and second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw to capture tissue having a tissue thickness. A tissue cutting force monitor is configured to determine the tissue thickness of the captured tissue and communicate the tissue thickness to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the speed of a tissue-cutting element during a cutting portion of a firing stroke based on the tissue thickness communicated from the tissue cutting force monitor. The controller is configured to reduce the speed of the tissue-cutting element when the tissue cutting force monitor communicates a thicker tissue thickness to the controller. The controller is configured to increase the speed of the tissue-cutting element when the tissue cutting force monitor communicates a thinner tissue thickness to the controller.